The DShK is a Soviet heavy machine gun with the caliber of 12.7mm. The weapon [Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny] took its name from Vasily Degtyaryov and Georgi Shpagin. Degtyaryov designed the original weapon. Degtyaryov improved the cartridge feed mechanism.
The legendary heavy machine gun is actively used in armed conflicts all around the world. The weapon is used as an infantry heavy machine gun, mounted on cars and even used as an anti-aircraft gun.
The original gun [DK, Degtyaryov] was built in 1930, but it was fed from a drum magazine of thirty rounds. It also had a poor rate of fire. Shpagin developed the improved cartridge feed mechanism in 1938 and the improved weapon was adopted as the DShK 1938.
The DShK has the weight of 34 kg. It has the length of 1,625 mm, the 12.7×108mm catridge, the rate of fire of 600 rounds/min and the effective firing range of 2,000 m.
SouthFront would like to bring to your attention a well-done analysis and documentary about the DShK made by our friend, Matsimus Gaming:
DShK is Soviet equivalent of US M2HB. The latter has a slightly better rate of fire albeit with slightly inferior ballistic performance. In my opinion KPV are more interesting than DShK since it has no real equivalent in NATO equipment. There is oerlikon 23mm autocannon however those never intended to be operated like KPV in wide range of uses.
“The weapon [Degtyaryova-Shpagina Krupnokaliberny] took its name from Vasily Degtyaryov and Georgi Shpagin. Degtyaryov designed the original weapon. Degtyaryov improved the cartridge feed mechanism.” I assume this is a mistake and Shpagin was the one who improved the cartridge feed mechanism, otherwise it would seem that Degtyaryov did all the work. :P (?)